UN Reports More Than Six Million Afghan Migrants Returned Since 2023

The United Nations Development Programme has reported that more than six million Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan since 2023. The returns include more than seven hundred thirty eight thousand people in 2026 alone, with most coming from Pakistan.

This large influx is placing substantial pressure on the social, economic, and service infrastructure in Afghanistan. The returns are occurring against a backdrop of ongoing difficulties with unemployment and poverty. They are also contributing to shortages in key areas such as water, health, education, and shelter.

In a global context, the report notes that more than one hundred seventeen point eight million people have been displaced worldwide due to war, violence, natural disasters, and climate change. The developments in Afghanistan form part of these larger patterns of movement and return.